As your little one hits the 8 month milestone, sleep patterns, once again, begin to shift. You may notice nap transitions solidifying and longer wake windows. Around 8 – 10 months, many babies hit a regression. Yes, another one. 8 months is a great time to establish healthy habits and start helping your baby thrive through independent sleep.
In this post, we’ll cover what milestones happen around 8 months, how much sleep your baby needs, a sample schedule you can adapt, and top tips to support sleep success.
What Milestones Happen in 8 Months?
At around eight months, your baby is growing quickly – not just physically, but cognitively and emotionally. These milestones can influence sleep:
- Many babies begin crawling, scooting, or pulling up on furniture
- Increased mobility often means more exploration when awake, and potentially more wakefulness at night.
- Separation anxiety often begins around this age, which can cause night wakings or https://sleepshore.com/when-do-babies-go-through-sleep-regressions/resistance at bedtime.
- With increased developmental activity (babbling, object permanence, etc.) your baby’s https://sleepshore.com/when-do-babies-go-through-sleep-regressions/brain is more alert, which can affect sleep.
Understanding these shifts and developments can help you anticipate changes in sleep behavior and adjust your little ones routines accordingly.
8 Month Old Sleep Needs
Sleep needs are so different from baby to baby. When looking at the average, we can typically gauge a range based on what most 8 month olds are doing.
Total Sleep in 24 Hours: About 12 – 16 hours is typical for an 8 month old.
Nighttime Sleep: Many babies are sleeping roughly 11-12 hours overnight. This can vary, but most 8 month olds can achieve optimal overnight sleep without feedings.
Daytime Sleep: Aim for total nap time between 2 – 3 hours. 8 month olds are typically on a 2 nap schedule. Make sure to preserve nighttime sleep by capping naps at 2 hours.
Wake Windows: A range of 2.5-3 hours if typical for an 8 month old. Finding that sweet spot can be tough at this age. 8 month olds typically don’t have obvious sleep cues like they did as newborns.
Safe Sleep Environment: Following guidelines for safe sleep, such as back-to-sleep, firm surface, and no loose bedding is so important.
These are guidelines, not rules. Every baby is unique and different. If your baby seems well-rested and happy, you likely are doing what is best for you and your child. Use these numbers and guidelines as a reference point with a flexible framework.
8 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Here are sample schedules you can use as a stepping stone to help get your little one on a solid daytime schedule while still achieving optimal overnight sleep. Remember, flexibility is key:
2 Nap Schedule
7:00 AM Wake-Up
9:45 AM Nap #1 (2 Hours)
2:30 PM Nap #2 (1 Hour)
6:30 PM Bedtime
PRO TIP: Nap #1 should never exceed 2 hours. If Nap #1 is 2 hours, Nap #2 should be capped at 1 hour. The goal would be to have 3 hours of total sleep accumulated between the first two naps. If you find that 3 hours of daytime sleep is affecting your child’s overnight sleep, cap their 2 hour nap at 90 minutes and adjust.
Tips for 8 Month Sleep Schedule
Tip #1: Establish a Predictable Bedtime Routine
Bath, book, dim lights, white noise, and a consistent bedtime can help cue sleep.
Tip #2: Watch Wake Windows
Don’t wait until your 8 month old is cranky. Stick to an age appropriate wake window between 2.5 – 3 hours. If your infant skips a nap, or takes a short nap, adjust their wake window and shorten the length of time to accommodate for their lack of sleep.
If you are struggling with the transition from 3 naps to 2 naps, check out this blog.
Tip #3: Encourage Independently Sleep
At 8 months, you can support your child independently sleeping. Put him or her down drowsy, but awake, and pick a consistent sleep training method.
Tip #4: Stay Consistent
Even though it can be difficult, staying consistent with routines, wake windows, and overnight approach. Changing up your response during regressions can cause sleep to spiral out of control.
Tip #5: Be Mindful of Sleep Disruptions
Crawling, teeth, and separation anxiety can cause temporary sleep regression. It is really normal and a sign of appropriate development.
At 8 months, your baby is in a transitional sleep phase – moving toward and settling into a more predictable two nap schedule. Give yourself and your baby grace. You can help support them with independent sleep while also maintaining structure. It’s important to be flexible and remember that sleep takes time. Great sleep is fluid, and we need to adjust as needed.
Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting
Is your 8 month old having difficulty self-soothing for naps and overnight? If your child is unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up at a normal time, it may be time to consider sleep training. Sleep Shore offers personalized solutions for each unique sleeping situation to get your little one on track- whether they’re a newborn, infant, or toddler. We also offer in home sleep training services in the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Michigan (Midland, Clare, Mt. Pleasant) and Traverse City, Michigan. Sleep training offers babies and children with the skills to fall asleep on their own so they can wake up feeling more well-rested- and in turn, you’ll feel more energized, too! See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“Recently, we worked with Danielle to get my 8 month old back on track. He had had back to back ear infections and we had got into a horrible pattern of middle of the night wake ups, unnecessary feedings and endless to rocking only for my son to wake up in a few short hours. It was frustrating because he would nap great for us and independently during the day. I felt like I was going to lose my mind with the lack or sleep, working full time and having two older children as well. Danielle helped us come up with a plan and within the week of 1:1 training he was back sleeping consistently through the night. Cannot recommend sleep shore enough. If you are thinking about using them, you wont regret it!”
Mom of 8 Month Old